(CNN) - In late 2012, when Neel Kashkari first pondered the idea of running for governor of California, one of the first people he sought out for advice was another Republican who once faced long odds in a big state gubernatorial bid: George W. Bush.

Bush was an underdog when he tried to unseat Texas Gov. Ann Richards in 1994, and he ended up winning in that year's GOP landslide.

soundoff(17 Responses)

rs

Maybe CNN the question should be "why is this man running for Governor of California as a Republican?". This guy sounds sane, responsible and dare one say, like a traditional Republican of the pre-Reagan era. He doesn't stand a chance against the lunacy that currently inhabits the GOP ranks.

April 3, 2014 10:27 am at 10:27 am |

Gurgyl

--first let him grow hair on his head, then California....

April 3, 2014 10:31 am at 10:31 am |

Rudy NYC

Heads up, folks. He's pretending that social issues are not the central theme to his agenda.

April 3, 2014 10:52 am at 10:52 am |

bcrunner

He is polling at 2%? Good luck dude!

April 3, 2014 11:09 am at 11:09 am |

Hector Slagg

Well,
Maybe Californians are tired of liberal politics. After the last 8 years maybe all citizens are tired of liberal politics. So all you Nanny Staters get ready for an abrupt change in the country. Just when you think you have it made, the whole shooting match goes bang!

What exactly is this nanny state that the right keeps yapping about? They're always calling people nanny staters. Do you people really believe everyone that votes Democrat has their hands out? I always vote Democrat and would rather eat a gun than vote GOP, especially this new GOP, but I work hard every single day (Mon-Fri) and I receive nothing from the government. Nor do I have a govt cell phone. I think you people have it mixed up, your nanny states are the red states. Especially the rural areas.

April 3, 2014 12:03 pm at 12:03 pm |

Sniffit

"your nanny states are the red states. Especially the rural areas."

Not to knit-pick but the red states aren't nanny states. They're the baby states who need nannies. The numbers don't lie. Frankly, they need to be shaken.

Now now Sniffit, their just babies. Who am I kidding, I want to shake them too.

April 3, 2014 12:40 pm at 12:40 pm |

anonymous

let california die its long slow death at the hands of the democrats. just like detriot, its fate has been determined. it is just taking longer to get there, but it will.

April 3, 2014 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

The Real Tom Paine

Its amusing, as usual, to see he-who-does-not-want-to-be-named declaring California to be headed for oblivion. Last time I checked, red states were still limping along, laboring under the illusion they are the last bastions of rugged individualism, when in fact they are subsidized by CA, NY, IL, etc. The only way CA will fail is if the GOP does the bidding of their friends in the business world and give them every incentive to move out of the country, which of course they will because the short-term benefits are sooooo attractive. Never mind the fact that it was GOP governors in the 40s and 50s who spurred the creation of all the infrastructure the GOP now so roundly condemns as a waste of money, things like education, roads, bridges, etc. Apparently taking the effort to maintain and improve this country is not worth the same effort as letting a shrinking group of oligarchs sell this country off, piece by piece, for profit while their sycophants applaud their every move as somehow ennobling.

April 3, 2014 01:15 pm at 1:15 pm |

Gunderson

So?,
How old Gunderson explain Nanny State? As Sargent Joe Friday used to say, Just the Facts please. So here facts. Read them and weep. 17.5 Trillion Dollar Federal Debt with no plan to pay it off. What's your plan?

April 3, 2014 01:26 pm at 1:26 pm |

just saying

The Real Tom Paine
blah, blah, blah....
--

democrats have owned and run california for decades. their ballot initiatives making things even worse. last i heard $60 billion in debt, state tax rates about 14%, overrun with illegals getting free state benefits costing billions, people and businesses stampeding out of the state.

yeah, that's a viable model for a few more years, then the detroit model takes over. and of course, the lying lefties will blame everybody else for the destruction. if they could just take 25% of everything you make, things would have worked out, you greedy people that want to keep your money to feed your families.